10-second review: To combat the depressing nature of many required readings, choose books, stories, poetry that have a range of outlooks on life.
Source: P. Thacker. English Journal (January 2007), 17-18. The secondary school publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Comment: Sound advice. RayS.
10-second review: Spend some time enjoying word play—puns, obscure words, oxymorons, names, product names, car/truck/SUV names; neologisms.
Source: RW Shanley. English Journal (January 2007), 12-14. A publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Comment: And don’t forget all of the books available on language from picture books to the stories behind the origins of words. And for each type of word play, put the word (“pun,” etc.) into Google and see how many sites you will find. For puns, 2, 530,000 Web sites. RayS.
10-second review: Give students a questionnaire in which they define their view of a good reader. Do you know anyone in your family who is a good reader? Who? How do you know he/she is a good reader? Name some things good readers do when they read. What kind of reader are you? Tell why.
Source: JC Johnson. Reading Teacher (May 2005), 767. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).
Comment: Might get some interesting answers. Distinguish between silent and/or reading aloud? RayS.
10-second review: How help students monitor their own reading processes? Teachers should reflect on and define the learning strategies they use, share their reflections with the students and cause students to reflect on their learning strategies.
Source: BJ Walker. Reading Teacher (April. 2005), 688-692. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).
Comment: Excellent idea. RayS.
10-second review: What does the term “scaffolding” mean? Scaffolding means providing help when students are having difficulty completing a task.
Source: KF Clark and MF Graves. Reading Teacher (March 2005), 570-580. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).
Comment: "Scaffolding" is the favorite buzz word of English education professional publications. I hate the word. “Support” is the same word in plain English without the metaphor to confuse things. RayS.
10-second review: How help students respond to reading? Create tableaux, using scenes from stories. Students try to guess what is happening.
Source: R Tortello. Reading Teacher (October 2004), 206-207. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).
Comment: Sounds like fun, but I’m not sure it’s worth all the effort. RayS.
10-second review: How model the reading process? Reads aloud a short story. The students read along silently from the overhead. Verbalizes his reactions to what he reads. Demonstrates how to interact with the text. Students were surprised that he demonstrated confusion at what he was reading. It was a story he hadn’t read before. Gave students insight into how to respond while reading.
Source: J Sommers. Teaching English in Two-Year Colleges (March 2005), 298-305.
Comment: Interesting idea. I would certainly try it. RayS.
